RE: READING: Leslie Zane, who heads the literary arts committee at Montalvo, started a monthly book club there wherein members meet for lunch and review a book of an upcoming author in the Montalvo series. The reading usually precedes the appearance of the author in the Carriage House by about a week.
Meetings are from noon to 1:30 p.m. at the villa, unless otherwise noted. Upcoming books are Dreaming Water by Gail Tsukiyama on May 6 at Twist Cafe in Campbell; Fugitive Pieces by Anne Michaels, June 10; Reading Lolita in Tehran by Azar Nafisi, July 22; and Kite Runner by Khlaed Hosseini, Aug. 19.
Also scheduled are You Got to Dance with Them That Brung You by Molly Ivins, Sept. 16; The Fifth Book of Peace by Maxine Hong Kingston, Oct. 14; and Family Trust by Amanda Brown, Nov. 4. To join Montalvo and the book club, the Montalvo box office is 408.961.5858.
One of the missions of the book club is finding commonality in diversity, and I'm including the Molly Ivins book in that assessment.
Some members of the book club are also members of the Saratoga Arts Commission. One such is Lee Murray, who reports that the commission is weighing public art at the entrance to the Gateway Corridor and the possibility of murals in the downtown area.
Two of the newest members of the commission are Bob Ray and Judith Klock, replacing Mary Ann Henderson and Betty Peck, who retired—both hard acts to follow. Henderson's two paintings of former Saratoga libraries hang in the new library entrance. She was instrumental in enlisting artists to Art in the Park, organized exhibits at the library and put the jury process in place. Peck is an inspiration to the entire community, and most particularly to the Arts Commission, as Murray said.
YOUNG WARDENS: Jillian Lawson of Saratoga and Ali Johansen of Los Gatos play the lead role of the warden in two different casts of the Peninsula Youth Theatre's production of Holes, playing May 716 at Cubberley Community Center in Palo Alto.
Holes is based on the popular, Newberry Award-winning book written by Louis Sachar. He adapted his book for the stage. History, adventure and wry humor are woven into a tale of friendship and justice. Sneakers play a part in the plot, and two pairs of autographed sneakers are up for bids as a fundraiser during the show's run.
One pair is signed by former 49er Ronnie Lott and one by the current 49er team. This production is a departure for PYT, which usually stages musicals. Everyone in the cast is aged 1020. The box office number is 650.988.8798.
WOMEN AND WAR: Monte Serenan Barbara Hawkes recently led a discussion on women and war for The Great War Society, a group of amateur historians who research World War I. The group studies every aspect of this watershed period, but the w and w subject had never been explored in depth.
How the war affected giving women the right to vote was one of the issues discussed. The contact number for anyone interested in joining the group is 408.395.4397. The South County club meets monthly in Palo Alto.
OPEN STUDIO: Three artists who exhibit at Gallery Saratoga will combine their talents at one Open Studio location, 13561 Old Tree Way, on May 8 and 9, 11 a.m.5 p.m. The three are Margaret Magill, silk painter; Felicia Peters Pollock, photographer; and Jeanne Redig, potter.
Magill's work is marked with vibrant colors on scarves and pillows or within framed artwork. Pollock's photographs take in scenes from all over the world—from as far away as New Zealand and Japan to California Missions, Yosemite or Vermont's covered bridges. Redig creates useful as well as decorative ceramic pieces, using high fired reduction and a computerized electric kiln.
MISSIONARY BUMPS IN THE ROAD: Dan and Berit Wick report some discontent and dissension during their missionary work in Cartagena, Columbia. The principal at the school where they work and teach has been ousted, which provoked some factions of the church-sponsored school.
However, they still find their Latin America mission rewarding, albeit challenging. The school now numbers 900, and the administrative tempest seems to be easing. Also growing is daughter Kristina, who continues to do well at school and on the basketball court—so well she's been asked to play on the varsity.
She also assists a veterinarian on Saturdays, animals being her particular passion. Recently she helped out at a farm with sick animals—a farm that contained 45,000 crocodiles. That was an experience she might not have encountered in California.
YOUTH SYMPHONY: Auditions for El Camino Youth Symphony will be held through May for youngsters ages 618 who have at least one year of music experience. The number is 650.327.2611. Applications are being taken by ECYS for summer workshops July 1223 in Palo Alto. The symphony website is www.ecys.org.
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By Mary Ann Cook